The Impact of Religious Faith and Practice on Patients Suffering from a Major Affective Disorder: A Cost Analysis

Abstract

Presents empirical data showing the relationship between religious beliefs and practices and lengths of stay in the hospital for patients suffering from one form of mental illness. Includes a spiritual injury scale which measures guilt, anger or resentment, sadness/grief, lack of meaning, feeling God/life has treated one unfairly, religious doubt, and fear of death. Shows in statistical form the relationship between these spiritual injuries and length of stay in the hospital. Indicates that spiritual injury issues are positively associated with longer lengths of hospital stay and that an inverse relationship exists between religious faith as measured by church attendance and cost for health care.